Recreation Management: Summary of Our 2017 Response

A summary comparison of our 2017 response to the draft “Actions” proposed by NFNPA in the 2018 survey. For last year’s Future Forest survey, we sidestepped the survey format and focused on three main areas for specific, achievable projects. These were 1) National Park Infrastructure 2) Influencing Adjacent Authorities and Communities and 3) Education Emphasis on Protecting the Forest

1. National Park Infrastructure –

Parking and Camping Provision Assessment

Habitat Assessment / Evidence Base

Actions to lead to provision design Fit For Purpose

The Draft Actions contain an aspiration to create a map to be used to address infrastructure priorities, but this is given an absurd “quick-win” goal of being produced within a year of the adoption of the RMS update. Rather than specifying key criteria and gathering evidence to base a sound spatial strategy, this will be done with whatever haphazard data is to hand or may be hastily compiled within that timeframe leading to an infrastructure just as damagingly arbitrary as that which we’ve inherited.

2. Adjacent Authorities and Communities –

Raise the profile of development on our borders that will affect the Forest

Brief Decision makers on impacts on the Forest and Section 62 Duties

Make nearby communities aware of their representatives responsibilities

Promote adequate, proportional mitigation

Petition Central Government for more strategic targets to take pressure off the Forest

The Draft Actions limit discussion of influencing adjacent authorities to their recreation provisions, where placement of population increases from new development if often the strongest driver in creating recreation pressure on the Forest. As mentioned above mitigation regimes undervalue the New Forest without scaling Thames Basin Heaths framework appropriately.

3. Education –

Develop clearer more straightforward messages

Look to reach other audiences

Easily highlight the Forest’s need for protection

National Nature Reserve

Working Farm

Working Forest

In context of the ongoing Habitat Loss in the UK

Of course there is a useful “Raising awareness and understanding” action point which is front and centre, but it is focussed very much on doing more of the same, but more often in more places with better production values, not shifting the message to significantly highlight the habitats and ways of life under threat. Getting a very simple key notion across that the Forest needs our collective respect and protection could give those education efforts a more useful focus and lead to positive impact.

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Beautifully observed phenomenon from our friends across the pond...Have you seen the same?Crown shyness is a naturally occurring phenomenon in some tree species where the uppermost branches in a forest canopy avoid touching one another. The visual effect is striking as it creates clearly defined borders akin to cracks or rivers in the sky when viewed from below.

Although the phenomenon was first observed in the 1920s, scientists have yet to reach a consensus on what causes it.

According to Wikipedia, it might simply be caused by the trees rubbing against one another, although signs also point to more active causes such as a preventative measure against shading (optimizing light exposure for photosynthesis) or even as a deterrent for the spread of harmful insects.

For you die hard consultation fans: our deeply detailed evaluation of all the objectives and actions in this year's Recreation Management Survey, expressed in the way you were not allowed to in the on-line survey.Enjoy! ... See MoreSee Less